Holdback



(No Model.)

G. T. WILSON.

HOLDBAGK.

No. 433,429. Patented July 29, 1890. I

figiimw Wilnelsses. i?

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE 'l. WVILSON, OF LOlVVILLE, NEWV YORK.

HOLDBACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,429, dated July 29, 1890.

Application filed October 25,1889.

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. lVILsON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowville, in the county of Lewis and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holdbacks for Vehicle- Thills; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the inven ject sought is to cause the thill-straps of the harness to be automatically thrown from their engagement with the thills of the vehicle in the event of the horse at any time being accidentally detached from the vehicle,

7 either by the breaking of the traces or the unhitching of the same.

The object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction and at the same time render more durable and efiicient in operation this class of devices.

To the above ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists in the peculiar combinations and in the novel construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and then particularly defined. in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which,with the letters of reference marked thereon,fo rin a part of this specification,like letters of reference indicating like parts throughout the several views, and in which drawings Figure l. is a side view of a holdback attachment for vehicle-thills constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is acentral vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a metallic casing, the lower face of which is provided with a longitudinal chamber B, within which chamber is fitted a fiat spring 0, one

Serial No. 328,132. (No model.)

end of said spring being soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the casing, as shown at D. The upper face of the casing A is provided with a hooked or curved extension or standard E, the base of which standard isdirectly above the point D, at which the spring 0 is secured within the casing.

Suitably pivoted between the lugs or cars F, which rise from the upper face of the easing, is the angle-iron G, which .iron consists of the arms H and I, extending at right angles to each other, the pivot being passed through a suitable hole formed at the point of unison. It will be observed that when the angle-iron G has been secured in place between the lugs F the angle of the same will bear directly upon the upper face of. the spring 0 at a point adjacent to its free end, and that when the iron has been turned so as to cause one of the arms to assume a vertical position the other arm will rest directly upon the upper face of the spring, which forms a bearing for the entire lower face of the arm. The space within the casing which is occupied by the horizontal arm of the angle-iron is of a depth sufficient to enable it to receive the arm entirely within the casing, thus hiding the same from view and preventing the possibility of its being accidentally caught up or turned by contact with the thillstrap, as would be likely to occur if the horizontal arm were exposed above the upper face of the casing.

It will be observed that the holdback-iron above described is very simple in construction, but three parts being used, the upright E and the lugs F being formed integral with the main body ofthe casing. The casing is secured to the thill by means of two screws, which are passed through holes formed in the casing near its ends, as shown at K K.

The device is simple and cheap in construction and may be quickly and easily attached without in any manner weakening or otherwise injuring the thill, as it is not necessary to cut or mortise the thill in making the attachment.

The operation of the device is simple and readily understood. When it is desired to attach the thill-strap, the loop of the strap is passed over the thill and is pressed against the vertical arm of the angle-iron, the horizon-tal arm of the iron being extended outwardly from the hook. By the backward pressure of the strap upon the vertical arm of the angle-iron the said iron will be turned upon its pivot, thus admitting the strap to the interior of the hook. By the turning of the iron upon its pivot the arm against which the strap is pressed in forcing the same into the hook is thrown into a horizontal position, while the opposite arm assumes a vertical position, thus closing the entrance to the hook and preventing the strap from being acciden tally detached from the hook when in use, the tension of the spring which bears against the lower face of the horizontal arm being sufficient to accomplish this purpose when the device is in ordinary use; but in case of accidental breaking of the traces or other accidental detaching of the horse the more powerful-pressure that would be exerted against the rear face of the vertical arm will serve to turn the iron upon its pivot, and thus release the strap from the hook.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Pat nt, is

As an improved article of lTlLllllfZlChlll'B, the

between the lugs upon the upper face of the casing with its angle bearing upon the free end of the spring and one of its arrns'adapted to bear upon the upper face of the spring, and its other end adapted to move beneath the curved extension, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in pressure of two Witnesses.

GEORGE T. WILSON.

Witnesses:

A. P. HARRINGTON, L. II. CARTER. 

